Chilling confession PR icon Jai Evans made to friends before he was found dead in his 36th floor apartment – and the final dinner that so disturbed those closest to him
EXCLUSIVE
The tragic and lonely death of renowned Sydney publicist Jai Evans came just two weeks after he told friends he was feeling ‘ill’ and his ‘body was shutting down’ from working 15-hour days.
Evans, 43, was found dead last Wednesday in his luxury 36th-floor apartment at the Harry Seidler-designed Horizon complex in Darlinghurst.
The exact cause of Evans’ death in his $1,400-a-week two-bedroom rental home remains a mystery, although a New South Wales Police spokesman said there was no evidence of suspicious behaviour.
Ny Breaking Australia can reveal that Evans – a prominent figure in the city’s entertainment industry since the early 2000s – appeared agitated and worried during a final dinner with friends on August 22.
That was about two weeks before his death, and the last time his friends saw him.
Evans maintained an impressive façade, wearing expensive designer items such as shoes, coats, furs and sunglasses worth over $1 million.
“Jai would always try to dress his friends in his own brand of clothes, as if he was ashamed to be seen with them if they looked homeless,” a close friend recalls.
“He was so funny, he always wanted everyone to look their best.”
But behind his seemingly lavish lifestyle was a lonely and stressed man struggling with professional pressures and personal problems.
Sydney publicist Jai Evans was a man known for his glamorous lifestyle, rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Lara Worthington and living in the fast lane. Pictured in his apartment in February 2023
That hectic existence came to a tragic and lonely end this week, however, when Evans, 43, was found dead in his luxury Darlinghurst apartment building on September 4.
Evans, who has been a prominent figure in Sydney’s entertainment scene since the 2000s, was found living in his extravagant $1,400-a-week rental home in the prestigious Horizon complex
Evans, who had said he felt immense pressure at work and in his personal life, was not seen or heard from for days before his body was eventually found in the apartment complex with one of Sydney’s most breathtaking views.
PR Guru’s Last Meal
Sources close to Evans have revealed that he has lost a number of key clients in recent months and has struggled to attract new ones, leading to financial problems.
Just two weeks before his death, Evans complained that he was “always under pressure” with his clients.
He texted a friend: ‘I’ve been working 15 hours a day and my head is full of scheduling for many clients and [NYC] fashion week and I think my body is just giving up.
‘I exercise daily and follow a diet, so I may feel sick.’
On August 22, Evans dined with friends in Potts Point.
During the meal he indicated that he “needed something to drink,” despite having decided to remain sober.
Friends noticed a marked change in his behavior. They described him as distant and worried. Some suspected he was struggling with personal demons.
“He was under a lot of stress,” an insider revealed. “He told us he had a lawsuit coming up and he was really worried about it, but he never went into details.”
Evans’ death has shocked many in the PR industry.
It is believed his body had been in the apartment for days before it was discovered.
Evans’ (right) last public appearance was on August 22 at a dinner in Potts Point, Sydney, where he was attended by several MAFS contestants including Alyssa Barmonde, Al Perkins, Layton Mills and Selina Chhaur, all pictured
A tragic ending
Evans’ illustrious career in PR has led him to work with some of the biggest names in the entertainment and fashion industries.
In recent years, however, the demands of the industry appear to be taking their toll.
Despite his years of experience and success, sources claim that he found it increasingly difficult to attract new clients and maintain his extravagant lifestyle, putting pressure on him to maintain his existing relationships.
Evans complained to close friends that he didn’t like other publicists trying to “mow him down” and “steal his clients.”
Despite his years of experience and success, sources claim he found it increasingly difficult to attract new clients and maintain his extravagant lifestyle, putting pressure on him to maintain his existing relationships. Pictured with Lara Worthington in 2005
Bondi fitness entrepreneur Dan Wootton confirmed the news of Evans’ death, while DJ Shiralee Coleman also paid tribute on Instagram (she is pictured with him in May 2023)
Friends and colleagues have expressed their shock and sadness at Evans’ passing, with many taking to social media to pay tribute to the man they described as a “PR legend” and “a true professional”.
Another wrote: ‘Devastated he was a dear friend, I really thought he would be with us forever. I am so sad but grateful to have shared so much laughter and love. Oh Jai you are missed more than you will ever know.’
While Evans’ cause of death is unknown, those close to him are grappling with the heartbreaking thought that the man they admired for his energy and charisma suffered in silence.
“He was distant in the weeks leading up to his death,” a friend revealed. “He went off the grid, which was completely out of character for him.”
For confidential crisis support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Evans had over two decades of experience in the public relations industry. He founded his own company, Evans Media, in 2005 and has worked with hundreds of media companies to help with their PR strategies. He is pictured with events manager Lucia Labbate in May 2008